U.S. Marshals, Local Law Enforcement Partners, Conduct 3-Month Fugitive Operation

Philadelphia, PA – The U.S. Marshals Service announced the arrests of 116 persons wanted for violent crimes in a three-month "Operation Triple Beam – Vigilant Resolve" enforcement initiative conducted throughout Delaware, Northampton, Lancaster and Berks Counties.

Of those arrested, 19 were confirmed gang members and 17 were wanted for homicide. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 11 firearms and a significant quantity of drugs.

Operation Triple Beam (OTB) is a national U.S. Marshals Service-led collaborative initiative that partners federal, state, and local law enforcement to focus on specific areas impacted by gang and related criminal violence while targeting the most violent offenders and organizations. The overall goal of Operation Triple Beam is to foster safer communities by providing immediate relief from gang-related violence by targeting fugitive gang members and the organizations responsible for committing violent crimes.

From July through September, the U.S. Marshals Service's Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force, along with state and local law enforcement agencies in Delaware, Northampton, Lancaster, and Berks Counties, led "Operation Triple Beam - Vigilant Resolve," an enforcement initiative stemmed from a similar operation named "Clipper Resolve" at the end of 2019 that resulted in 51 arrests in one week within Chester, and which substantially diminished gun violence in that city for over three months. The "Vigilant Resolve" effort prioritized the arrests of those who committed violence or used weapons in the commission of their crimes. Concurrently, U.S. Marshals accomplished 481 sex offender compliance checks throughout Delaware County and Philadelphia during this period, resulting in 21 arrests and the issuance of 40 arrest warrants.

"These enforcement efforts help free communities from burdensome issues rooted in criminal violence," said Eric Gartner, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “Working together with our law enforcement partners creates a force multiplier to enhance our enforcement missions and their goal of creating safer neighborhoods."

"Operation Triple Beam involved extensive collaboration between federal and local law enforcement partners to stem the tide of violent crime in our District" said Bill McSwain, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. "Its success is a testament to the hard work, dedication and teamwork of every agency involved. The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to work to identify those offenders who have violated federal law and will bring charges whenever it's appropriate to do so."

"When law enforcement officers work together, we get results," District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said. "The success of OTB is the result of effective collaboration between all levels of law enforcement – federal, state and local – to target the most violent criminals in our communities. I want to thank Eric Gartner, the U.S. Marshals, Delaware County Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Chief Jim Nolan, Criminal Investigations Division detectives, and all of the law enforcement agencies that played a role in the success of Operation Triple Beam . My office intends to continue these valuable partnerships as we all work to make our communities safer and more secure."

"Vigilant Resolve" was a collaborative U.S. Marshals-led operation conducted in close partnership with the following agencies: Chester Police Department, Delaware County Criminal Investigative Division, Delaware County Sheriff's Office, Berks County Sheriff's Office, Reading Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, Lancaster City Borough of Police, Bethlehem Police Department, Easton Police Department, PA State Police, PA State Parole

Chief of Police Richard Tornielli, Reading Police Department, stated, "the task force made 45 arrests which cleared 53 warrants, including a member of the Bloods Street Gang arrested with a gun in hidden compartment in his vehicle, and a suspect wanted for a double homicide and drugs. The arrests made during Operation Triple Beam Vigilant Resolve have helped to make the City of Reading a safer place and serve as a great example of the accomplishments that can take place through the cooperation with our partners in federal law enforcement."

Lancaster County Sheriff Christopher Leppler stated "the renewed collaboration between the US Marshal Service and the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office has and will allow us to take more dangerous criminals off the Street."

The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force (E/PA VCFTF) mission is to locate and apprehend fugitives throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding counties. This task force is the nation's first fugitive task force, originating in 1981. With offices in Philadelphia, Allentown, Easton, and Reading, the Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force has developed and will continue to develop relationships with numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

This task force prides itself in arresting the most violent offenders while ensuring the safety of the citizens and the community. Please see Eastern District of Pennsylvania to view a list of profiled fugitives in southeastern PA.